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Introduction – Statistics Primer
· Probability Density Function (Failure Density/Mortality function): p.d.f. or
f(t) is the number of failures per time unit, expressed as a fraction or original
total of parts under examination.
· Cumulative Distribution Function : c.d.f. or F(t) records the cumulative
number of failures up to any time t, expressed as a fraction of the original total
quantity.
· c.d.f. or F(t) can be represented as the area under the p.d.f. up to t. It increases
from left to right (move the slider to see the variation of F(t) with t.).
· Hazard rate, r(t) is a conditional probability, with r(t)dt being the probability
that an item fails during the interval [t, t+dt], given that it has survived to time
t.
Scenario 1: Randomly select a new born baby. If you ask the question: what is the
probability that the baby will die on his 80 th birthday? This is a question on
probability density function, f(80).
Scenario 2: Randomly select a person who would celebrate his 80 th birthday one
day later, but dies on the day of his 80 th birthday. This is a question relating to
hazard rate, λ(80).